When an endowment is established, the funds are invested and only the income from the investment is used to support its purpose. This preserves the donor’s original gift in perpetuity, guaranteeing they will have an impact on the University for generations to come.

The minimum size gift to establish an endowment is $25,000, which can be paid over a period of years. Donors may use either outright or deferred gifts to establish named endowed funds.

Endowments can be established in the donor’s name, the name of their business, or in honor of someone important to the donor. Donors can also specify how they would like the income from the endowment to be used. The museum works with each donor to prepare guidelines for the administration of each named endowed fund. Guideline length and degree of specificity depend upon the donor's wishes and particular circumstances. For more information on endowment opportunities, please contact Senior Director for Development Anna E. von Gehr.

Gifts of Art

The permanent collection of the museum continues to grow through the generosity of individuals and organizations who donate works of art from their own collections, assuring that the museum’s collection continues to represent the global spectrum of the visual arts. Other donors provide funding to purchase works for the permanent collection. The museum determines if an art gift will be accepted based upon The Ringling’s collection policy. If a work fits into the museum’s collecting needs, the work can be accessioned following approval from the Board of Trustees.

Gifts of Stock

One of the most beneficial ways to make an impact with your philanthropy is through a gift of stock. Donor stock transfers are made in one of three ways:

Electronically (DTC)

Physical certificate—donor’s name

Physical certificate—FSU Foundation

NOTE: One of the following procedures must be used for each and every stock transfer. Following the procedures identified below will ensure that proper credit is given to the donor.

Electronic transfer (DTC)

When donors' stocks are held by a broker, the donor instructs the broker to send a copy of confirmation to the FSU Foundation, indicating his or her name, stock being transferred and date of transfer. The donor then follows up with a letter to the FSU Foundation with instructions that they wish for their gift to be designated to The Ringling and instructs the broker to send the stock(s) to one of three Foundation accounts:

The donor should also request that their broker send confirmation of transfer to the FSU Foundation, Inc. The confirmation should indicate the donor’s name, the security being transferred, the Foundation account which should be used, and the date of transfer.

The donor should then follow up with a letter to the FSU Foundation with instructions regarding their gift designation so that it can be properly credited.

The confirmation from the donor’s broker and the donor’s letter should be sent electronically to Tammy Lavine at tlavine@foundation.fsu.edu.

Physical Certificate—Donor’s Name

When a donor wishes to give securities that are held in physical form (e.g., stock certificates) and are registered in their name, the donor should mail either (1) an endorsed security certificate(s) or (2) an unendorsed security certificate(s) with a signed stock power to the Foundation. The donor should include with the physical documents a letter authorizing the shares to be transferred and deposited to an FSU Foundation account. The letter should also state the donor’s gift designation so that the gift can be properly credited. The letter, certificates, and stock or bond power should be mailed to:

Physical Certificate—Naming the FSU Foundation

A donor may elect to re-register their physical form securities into the FSU Foundation’s name before sending them to the Foundation. These re-registered physical documents should then be sent to the following address: